How to Improve Your Vocabulary for CAT: Tips for Aspirants Weak in English

Why Vocabulary is Important for CAT, MBA, and Career Success

If you’re preparing for the CAT exam and struggling with English, building a strong vocabulary is essential. Many aspirants focus heavily on Reading Comprehension (RC) and grammar, but vocabulary plays a critical role in scoring well in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of CAT, XAT, NMAT, and other MBA entrance exams. Beyond exams, a robust vocabulary is vital for business school success and shining in your corporate career. Top B-schools such as IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) will have Case Study discussions, Presentations and competitions. You will also have Summer Internship interviews and Final Placement interviews at IIMs (Indian Institute of Management) where communication is really important.

Why Vocabulary Matters

1. Scoring Higher in VARC for CAT and Other MBA Exams

• A strong vocabulary helps you understand and analyze complex RC passages with ease.
• Questions on Para Summary, Sentence Completion, and Odd One Out often rely on your ability to understand nuanced words.
• Exams like CAT, XAT, and SNAP test your ability to infer context and grasp meanings effectively.

2. Excelling in B-School Communication

• During your MBA, you’ll need to write detailed reports, participate in case studies, and deliver impactful presentations. These require a precise and professional vocabulary.
• A strong command of language boosts your confidence during group discussions (GDs), networking events, and peer collaborations.
• You’ll stand out in business case competitions and classroom discussions when your verbal communication is clear and concise.

3. Succeeding in Your Corporate Career

• Recruiters often favour candidates who communicate ideas confidently and clearly.
• Strong vocabulary enhances workplace communication, email writing, and business presentations.
• Leadership roles, client meetings, and negotiations all demand persuasion skills, which stem from effective language use.

Step 1: The Best Websites for Vocabulary Building

One of the easiest ways to improve your vocabulary is by reading high-quality content daily. The following websites are perfect for CAT vocabulary preparation and sharpening professional communication skills.

News & Editorials (For Formal Writing and Opinion Analysis)

These sources help you learn new words in context and improve comprehension skills:

• Mockat’s Daily POV: Learn vocabulary through contextual reading (Visit Mockat)
• The Hindu Editorials: Ideal for opinion-based writing (Visit The Hindu)
• The Guardian: Global news with rich vocabulary (Visit The Guardian)
• BBC News: Short, engaging articles for daily reading (Visit BBC News)

Psychology, Science & Human Behavior (For Abstract Concepts)

Improve logical reasoning with these engaging sources:

• Psyche.co: Explore human behavior and psychology (Visit Psyche)
• Big Think: Learn about thought-provoking ideas and innovations (Visit Big Think)
• Vox: Simplifies complex topics with accessible language (Visit Vox)

Business, Economics & Finance (For CAT RC and MBA Vocabulary)

Build vocab relevant to business management, CAT, and B-school discussions:

• Freakonomics Blog: Insightful articles on economics (Visit Freakonomics)
• BBC Worklife: Practical tips and workplace insights (Visit BBC Worklife)
• Harvard Business Review (HBR): For advanced business concepts (Visit HBR)

Pro Tip: If HBR feels too advanced, start with shorter opinion pieces before moving to detailed case studies.

Step 2: Best Books to Build Vocabulary in an Engaging Way

Beginner-Friendly Fiction (For Light Reading & Daily Practice)

• Harry Potter series – J.K. Rowling
• The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
• Wonder – R.J. Palacio
• The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

Intermediate Fiction (For Expanding Vocabulary Naturally)

• Animal Farm – George Orwell
• The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith
• The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
• Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty
• The Cuckoo’s Calling – Robert Galbraith
• The Martian – Andy Weir
• Jeeves & Wooster Series – P.G. Wodehouse
• Three Men in a Boat – Jerome K. Jerome
• Good Omens – Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
• The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson

Non-Fiction (For Business & Thought-Provoking Vocabulary)

• Sapiens – Yuval Noah Harari
• Atomic Habits – James Clear
• Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
• Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
• Made to Stick – Chip Heath & Dan Heath

Biographies or Books on Business

• Shoe Dog – Phil Knight
• I Came Upon a Lighthouse – Shantanu Naidu
• The Everything Store – Brad Stone
• That Will Never Work – Marc Randolph
• How Google Works – Eric Schmidt & Jonathan Rosenberg
• Big Billion Startup – Mihir Dalal
• The Upstarts – Brad Stone

Step 3: Best Websites & Apps to Practice Vocabulary

Regular practice is key to retaining new words. The following websites and apps provide interactive and engaging ways to test and improve vocabulary skills.

• Mockat’s Speed Verbal – Practice Here
  https://mockat.com/
• Freerice – Play Here
  https://freerice.com/
• WordUp Vocabulary App – WordUp
  https://wordupapp.co/
• Quizlet – Create Flashcards
  https://quizlet.com/
• Google Coach – AI-powered vocabulary & language learning
  https://www.google.com/search?q=Google+Coach+Vocabular

Final Thoughts – The Key to Vocabulary Growth

• Read daily, practice words in context, and revise consistently.
• Use engaging resources like Mockat’s Daily POV & Speed Verbal to boost CAT scores.
• Turn learning into a habit—5-10 new words a day = 300+ new words per month.

By integrating these strategies into your preparation, you can enhance your vocabulary not just for CAT but also for your entire MBA journey and professional career. Start today, and take your verbal skills to the next level.